President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday inaugurated a new segment of the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX) C5 Southlink, aiming to ease traffic congestion and cut travel time between the cities of Parañaque and Taguig.
The newly opened Segment 3B is a two-kilometer connector road linking CAVITEX to C5. It is expected to accommodate up to 36,000 vehicles daily, according to the president.
President Marcos said the project would significantly decongest smaller roads in the area by redirecting traffic to the new expressway.
“‘Yung biyahe na dati ay isang oras, isang oras at kalahati, magiging 15 minutes na lang (The trip that used to take one hour, an hour and a half, will now take just 15 minutes),” Marcos said in his remarks, highlighting the expected reduction in travel time.
He added that the shorter travel duration would translate into savings for commuters, particularly in fuel costs, amid rising global oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East.
“Napakalaking bagay ‘yan dahil sa malaking savings sa oras ng mga commuter… at napakalaking savings ito sa gasolina, sa krudo, sa fuel (This is significant because it means major savings in commuters’ time… and it also represents substantial savings in gasoline, crude oil, fuel),” he said.
The president also announced that the new segment would be toll-free for motorists until the end of April to encourage its use, especially during the busy Holy Week travel period.
“Mula ngayon hanggang end of April, toll-free ngayon muna dito (From now until the end of April, toll-free for now here),” he said.
The opening forms part of the administration’s broader infrastructure push under its “UPLIFT” program, which Marcos said prioritizes improving transport connectivity and mobility across the country.
Mr. Marcos noted that additional road projects are set to open in other parts of Luzon, including a new route in Central Luzon connecting Tarlac to Cabanatuan.
The Department of Public Works and Highways, led by Secretary Vince Dizon, is overseeing the rollout of these projects, which the administration says are aimed at making travel faster, safer and more efficient.
Dizon said the project forms part of the administration’s directive to open as many road projects as possible ahead of the Holy Week travel rush, especially as Filipinos grapple with high fuel prices. He said shorter routes would mean less travel time, lower fuel consumption, and reduced expenses for the public.
Meanwhile, Marcos also ordered the completion of farm-to-market road (FMR) projects to cushion the impact of rising oil prices on farmers.
Dizon said even partial completion of the FMR project has already reduced fuel costs for farmers transporting goods, noting that about 800 meters of completed road has cut fuel expenses by nearly half. Once finished, the road is expected to benefit farmers transporting produce as far as Tagum.
The inspection was conducted alongside Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., with officials underscoring that improved road infrastructure will boost agricultural productivity, stabilize supply chains, and help mitigate the effects of the ongoing oil price pressures.
